For its first anniversary this Sunday, the city’s popular resto-bar, Karma, will have Delhi-based artiste Aastha Gill in the house. You might remember her recent debut single, Buzz, featuring rapper Badshah. Although the singer has been to the city before, what makes this gig special is that it’s her first solo performance in her four-year-long career. “It’s a big day for me. To perform solo is an achievement. And to perform in a club like Karma for its first anniversary only makes it better,” she says, adding that her set is going to be full of energy and Bollywood party songs. Belonging to a family of musicians comes with its own advantages. Like a lot of other artistes, Aastha too was captivated by the art of music composition and wanted to be a singer. However, having seen her father go through difficult phases in the industry, she was wary of the ‘struggle’ and preferred to settle for a more secure and stable job. Things didn’t go as planned though. A couple of years into the corporate world, she couldn’t help but get back to her passion— music. “When I think about it now, I realise that I was always interested in music but I didn’t accept it myself. I kept that thought away because I was not sure if I could survive the struggle,” shares the 24-year-old singer.
The year 2014 was a big one for Aastha. Firstly, the pop and Bollywood singer debuted with Fugly’s Dhup Chik, along with Raftaar and rapper Badshah, which further opened up her opportunities in the circuit. She also had her first break in the same year with DJ Wale Babu and Sonam Kapoor-starrer Khoobsurat’s Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai. However, Aastha confesses that post-2014, her journey wasn’t as easy as she expected it to be. “For three years, I didn’t really have work and that’s the struggle I was scared of, initially. Nothing seemed to work. Thankfully, my family has always had my back. My father guided and supported me through that phase. At the end of the day, hard work pays off,” she says.
.jpg?w=640&auto=format%2Ccompress)
Cut to 2018 and Aastha has made quite a comeback with her first single, Buzz. Released in April this year, the video has garnered more than one billion views on Sony Music India’s YouTube page. The catchy party song features her mentor and longtime friend, Badshah. “I’ve collaborated with Badshah for six party songs and more than 400 shows across the world. The whole team treats me like a kid, but he’s always like a coach I look up to. The biggest lesson I’ve learnt from him is to stay dedicated and focussed on what you do,” she says. While many are aware that Aastha is a vocalist, only a few know her as a fashionista too. “When I plan my outfit, I first decide my sneakers and then check what matches them. Even on stage, I prefer sneakers over heels,” she says.
Bottom’s up
Celebrating its first anniversary, the rooftop resto-bar Karma has a special array of drinks on offer:
l Karma Signature Sangria
l Sassy Liit
l Karma Twist
On July 8, 7 pm onwards.
At Karma, Banjara Hills.